Blog

Have a Fall/Winter sports player in your family? The CDC has some great proactive information regarding concussion injuries.

It's Fall sports season and Winter sports are not far behind. Playing sports brings certain personal injury risks. One common injury is a concussion. Because symptoms may be hidden, it is important to know what to look for, and also what steps to take if someone is exhibiting them.

Awareness is the important thing. First, note that signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury.

Symptoms may include:

Headache or “pressure” in head

Nausea or vomiting

Balance problems or dizziness

Double or blurry vision

Sensitivity to light

Sensitivity to noise

Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy

Concentration or memory problems

Confusion

Just not “feeling right” or is “feeling down”

It's important to watch for these and then to take action because as the Sports Concussion Institute, warns, “delicate neural pathways in the brain can become damaged, causing neurological disturbances. ”

If you suspect there is a concussion involved with a player in your family, StopSportsInjuries.org has the following advice:

When concussion is suspected, a trained coach, certified athletic trainer, or the team physician should immediately perform an initial “sideline” evaluation, including:

Symptoms list review

Focused neurological exam

Focused orientation exam that tests short-term memory recall such as the event, play, opponent, score or last meal

Focused orientation exam that tests long term recall such as name, birth date, place of birth

Assessment of athlete's ability to stay attentive to a complex task such as reciting months backwards”

Then, care must be exercised as the sports player returns to the field. The Columbian had some good advice in a recent article:

The athlete's primary care provider, athletic trainer and physical therapist will work together to develop an individualized program aimed at promoting safe return to play. This team approach helps to maximize your athlete's potential and decrease the likelihood of complications. Following the protocol as prescribed will help the athlete get back in the game safely, sooner rather than later.”

Share

About the Author

Brad Thayer is an associate at the Schauermann Thayer firm. Brad is licensed in both Oregon and Washington. He has been practicing law since 2015. Brad's practice focuses on automobile collision, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian injury, dog bite, and myriad other types of injury and insurance cases. During his free time, Brad enjoys following the Portland Trail Blazers, playing basketball, going to concerts, and playing the drums. He especially enjoys hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and exploring other Northwest wonders.

Comments

Leave a Comment

Topics

Contact Our Firm

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.